Chinese officials in Guangzhou are conducting a search and rescue operation for two missing seafarers following the sinking of a small bulker after it collided with the containership Wan Hai A17 in the Pearl River Estuary on October 25. The Wan Hai A17, which has a deadweight tonnage of 144,572, activated emergency protocols immediately after the incident, deploying lifebuoys and signaling devices and launching a rescue boat. The Guangzhou Maritime Safety Administration also initiated a search and suspended vessel traffic in the area.
According to reports, the 8,000-ton bulker, named Hai Li 5, lost power before the collision, leading to its immediate sinking after striking the larger containership. The Wan Hai A17, one of the largest vessels in its fleet with a capacity of 13,100 TEU, was built by Samsung Heavy Industries and delivered in August 2024. The shipping company emphasized that the vessel series possesses "Smart Ship Notation" certification, which allows for advanced monitoring and communication systems to ensure safe maritime operations.
Rescue efforts have successfully saved 13 seafarers from the water, but the search continues for the two individuals who remain unaccounted for. The Wan Hai A17 is currently anchored in the Lingding Channel, and all 23 crew members aboard reported no injuries. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority, as the flag state of the containership, has been informed of the incident and will conduct its own investigation alongside Chinese authorities.
